They team up biannually to host intimate but very successful open houses for a small group of different female entrepreneurs....
artisans
In Pakistan, handicrafts are rich and varied with every city/village having its specialty ranging from fabric, material, and embroidery to jewellery, carving, mirror work, and other handicraft items.
In the past few years, we have also witnessed a noticeable increase in entrepreneurial ventures which are especially led by women; and Artisan Entrepreneurship is one such growing phenomenon. When women team up and give other women the space and chance to prove their potential and grow, it is truly commendable and a big step towards women empowerment.
Recently, The Winter Open House was organised by enterprising entrepreneurs Najia Siddiqui of ADORN (Artisans Development Online Retail Network) and Sohema Rehan of Native by Hajra Textiles. They team up biannually to host intimate but very successful open houses for a small group of different female entrepreneurs.
The well-organised event showcased their beautiful work. Specialising in rilli work commissioned to female artisans in interior Sindh and block prints made by local artisans, the duo collectively have a wide array of designs and items from handmade patch work quilts and cushions to bed sheets, prayer mats, table decor and exclusive apparel. Other than ADORN and Native by Hajra, other brands who were invited to be part of the collective this time included Iram Ansari of Gulmohr from Lahore who came with an assortment of home essentials like hand woven khes, bed spreads and smaller items like tea cosies, table mats etc.
Karachi favourite, Bina Ali of Artel had her wonderful clay pottery as part of the show and the youngest participant was 15 year old Nashwa Khurshid of Bynashwa with delicate and dainty jewellery for sale. Handmade pure leather shoes by Zehra Naseem Haque of Emblème completed the array. Erum Munir, of Elan Women's Social Club displayed her very own Scraps - the one-stop shop for very elegant crafty gifts including coasters, photo albums etc.
The event also offered scrumptious food to feast on. Zehra A Wahab of Just Z’s and Rushna Shamsi of Butter Fingers offered flavourful cheese, hummus, flans, jams and variety of dips and flavourful butters that were a big hit and of course the ever popular Bombay Bhel. For something sweet, Daisy Donuts by Afshan was the icing on the cake.
The event was a success. Various bloggers termed the Winter Open House as, “Very thoughtfully organised with a decent footfall... it was not overcrowded.”
Adorn and Native are now teaming up for an exclusive event in Dubai in the spring of 2022.
– Sumeha Khalid
